Palate of Potala

The Palate of Potala (Tibetan: bo texte=པོ་ཏ་ལ ; Sinogramme: zh-Hant texte= [[wikt: 布布]] [[wikt: 達達]] [[wikt: 拉拉]] [[wikt: 宮宮]] ^transl./zh-Hans texte= 布 [[wikt: 达达]] 拉 [[wikt: 宫宫]] ^simpl., zh texte=bùdálā gōng trans= [[pinyin]], zh texte=pu⁴ta²la¹ kung¹ trans= [[Lagging-Gilles]]), is an architectural building Tibetan of the 17th century, located at Lhassa, the capital of the Tibet. Built by the 5th Dalaï Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617 - 1682), it was in particular the principal place of residence of the Dalaï LAMA which succeeded to him, until the escape of 14 {{E}} Dalaï LAMA in India after rising against the Chinese army in 1959. Today, the 14th Dalaï Lama resides at Dharamsala in the North of the India and the Palate of Potala became a museum of the Popular republic of China.

History

In 1645, the 5th Dalaï Lama held a meeting with the high officers of the Gaden Phodrang (Gouvernement Tibetan) on the construction of the Palate of Potala on the Red Hill, where the 33e King of Tibet Songtsen Gampo had built a strong red at the 7th century. The same year, construction started and one needed 43 year old meadows to finish it. Towards the end of its life, the 5th Dalaï Lama was withdrawn from the public sight. It spent the years in retirement and entrusted the capacities to the Regent Sangyé Gyatso. In 1682, at the 65 years age, it died before finishing construction of it. However, he had entrusted the responsibility for it to Sangyé Gyatso while advising to him to maintain the secrecy of his death for a time. The regent hid with the people Tibetan the death of the Dalaï Lama during more than 12 years, until the end of work.

The Palate of Potala became the palate of winter of the Dalaï Lama after the construction of the Norbulingka, the palate of summer at the 18th century, an architectural chief of work Tibetan built by the 7th Dalaï Lama, Kelzang Gyatso. Kelzang Gyatso also constituted the “Kashag” or the Council of Ministers to manage the Gouvernement Tibetan whose offices are in the Palate of Potala. It still founded the school of Tse located at the top of the Palate. The school of Tse formed the executives of the Gouvernement of Tibet. The graduates of this school who wished to work in the public office were to undergo a more thorough teaching in a religious school. The laic civils servant were mainly trained at the school of Tse.

The Palate of Potala profits from a strong protection as a national heritage of Chinese state since 1961. Thanks to this protection, it has escaped with vandalism at the time of the Cultural revolution, the Palate of Potala was registered in the list of the World heritage of UNESCO in 1994. In 2000 and 2001, the Temple of Jokhang and the Norbulingka were allowed on the list in extensions of its sites. Founded at the 7th century, the monastery of the Temple of Jokhang is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex.

The complex of the Palate of Potala rises on the red hill in the center of the valley of Lhassa, to 3700 m of altitude. It includes/understands the white Palais and the red Palais , like their additional buildings.

Comprising a white part and a red part, the Palate of Potala symbolizes the union of the spiritual power and temporal and its role in the administration of the Tibet.

White palate

The white Palate is the part of the palate of Potala dedicated to the districts of residence of Dalaï LAMA. The first white palate was built during the reign of Lozang Gyatso, the fifth Dalaï Lama, at the 17th century. It was then extended by thirteenth Dalaï Lama Thubten Gyatso at the beginning of the 20th century. Of secular use, the palate contained the districts of dwellings, the offices, the seminar and printing works.

A central interior court painted in yellow, the Deyangshar , separates the districts from dwelling of the red palate.

Red palate

The red Palate is the part of the palate of Potala which is entirely dedicated to the religious study and with the Buddhist prayers. Of a complex plan, it shelters many entries, vaults and libraries on several levels, connected per many small tortuous galleries.

Gallery

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